I've left quite some time between reading and reviewing 'Adventures in Dating .....in Heels', because I haven't been sure where I want my rsting to sit.

There's plenty to love about this book.

The premise and characters are realistic and the relationships of various kinds well drawn.

The main character, Kev, struggles so much to be true to his desires to dress snd perform in 'drag'. He's a likeable character who has some really horrible experiences with boyfriends - though really, the men that he dates are often using him and/or hiding him and not really 'true' boyfriends at all....and/or they have issues with his drag work and persona. Basically Kev has a great deal of trouble finding anyone who accepts and is attracted to all facets of what makes him who he is.

I liked that the friendship Kev forms with Tony is so supportive, well drawn snd central to the story. Also his relationship with his mum is wonderful! She's written as a wonderful, warm woman, who supports Kev in everything , to the point of choosing his self esteem and happiness over his dad/her husband who refuses to accept Kev as he is.

One point I did have misgivings about, was Kev's idea of 'outing' another friend to his family, which just isn't on....but then there were good intentions there, so in a way this adds to a truly accurate human portrayal.

In conclusion, this is an easy read, somewhat light and fun, which also deals with some really deep and heavy real life issues. Not great writing/literature, but nevertheless a good read around an enlightening theme. I might recommend this to older teens if I thought they might gain some affirmation or enlightening information pertinent to their own lives, as well as enjoyment out of reading it.

I received a copy of this through NetGalley in return for my honest review.

Overall I would give this book a 3.5/5 with the writing style causing me to lower my rating because I was having to constantly reread certain sentences until I was capable of comprehending. One of my favorite things about this novel were the relationships especially the mother/son relationship because I was capable of relating to having a close relationship with my own grandmother. The main thing that drew me into this book was the topic of drag because being a fan of Rupaul's Drag Race made me want to read about someone of a younger age experiencing the trials and tribulations they would have to go through to achieve their dreams. This book needs a sequel because I felt that the ending left me hanging.

Note: I received a copy of Adventures in Dating... in Heels by Liam Livings via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kev Harrison is a teenager who really enjoys cross-dressing. He's known this for awhile, but had to hide away the dresses in his closet; away from his father's non-accepting eyes. It's the nineties in a small village near Salisbury, England & finding a boyfriend and friends that accept his cross-dressing is found to be quite difficult. After obtaining a job at TK Maxxx, Kev Harrison meets Tony Collins, a Goth who loves fashion. The two quickly become best friends, and Tony remains my Kev's side; through thick & thin. 

I'm not 100% sure what I was expecting when requesting this e-arc of Adventures in Dating... in Heels, but the cover instantly drew me in. You see, I'm constantly on the search for LGBT books & I can't recall any other time that I've read a book that focuses on a drag queen; so, I knew I had to read this novel.

With the color spreading across the cover, for some reason I assumed Adventures in Dating... in Heels would be more of an upbeat & bright story of the main character, Kev Harrison. But alas, the beginning chapters are filled with despair, and throughout, Kev struggles with multiple issues.

Kev's dating life is a main aspect of Adventures in Dating... in Heels (which is totally obvious with the novel's title). Every single man that Kev dates makes me want to scream. I wanted Kev to just run & never look back, because all of these boyfriends truly sucked.

But through all of the heartbreak, Kev still had the two people who'd been on his team the entire time: his mother and Tony. Honestly, it's these three characters that make Adventures in Dating... in Heels such an enjoyable read. All of the characters had their own characteristics and made them stand out from the rest, while still having them mesh and fit perfectly together.

Even though Kev does suffer from what seems to be heartbreak after heartbreak and disappointment after disappointment, this book still remained a warm story based on friendship and acceptance. I found myself sad at times, laughing at other times, and falling in love with all of the characters.

Kev Harrison is different to everyone else at school and hates going there; he’s got nothing in common with the rest of his schoolmates. Things improve when he gets a part-time job at TK Maxx and meets Tony Collins another person with a style of his own, who soon becomes his best mate. We follow Kev’s attempts to find a decent boyfriend and to make it as a drag artist. Felt realistic. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow that's a lot of toads. Kev has known who he is from a young age, now he just has to deal with those around him. Favourite character is Tony and then the mother. The cover is in your face, the story an emotional roller coaster of broken hearts and broken dreams.